The mission of the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center and Garis Gallery is "To celebrate and perpetuate the history, art and culture of the Chisholm Trail, the American Cowboy and the American West."
The museum honors the men and women who rode the Trail, settled the area, were stationed at nearby Ft. Sill and Ft. Arbuckle, started businesses and raised families, as well as the indigenous peoples who forced to drastically alter their lifestyles due to the encroachment of the other travelers and settlers.
In addition to history, taxidermy and lifestyle exhibits, the 2300 sq. ft. Garis Gallery of the American West houses a fine collection of western art - the personal collection of Mr. Jim Garis -- including works by George Catlin, Albert Bierstadt, Frederic Remington, Charlie Russell, Ramona Swift, John Coleman and Allan Houser.
The Gallery also hosts special temporary art exhibitions to provide regional artists, both well-known and rising to the public’s view for six to 10 week shows, and also features traveling exhibitions provided by ExhibitsUSA, a Mid-America Arts Alliance and the Smithsonian.